Equusite.com - Horse Gaits: walk, trot, canter and gallop. WRITTEN BY: Cheryl Sutor [February 1998] Most horse breeds possess the 4 natural gaits described below. However, some breeds have a 5th, 6th or 7th gait that is either natural or trained. Please keep that in mind when you view this article. Walk: The walk is a natural 4-beat movement. The horse always has two or three hooves on the ground. The walk is the slowest natural gait, it is the steadiest and most comfortable. The horse lifts his hooves as follows: (1st beat) right hind leg (2nd beat) right fore leg (3rd beat) left hind leg (4th beat) left fore leg Trot: The trot is a steady 2-beat movement. This gait has a period of suspension. The horse springs from one diagonal to the other. In between these springs, all four legs are off the ground.

Since the trot has two beats each stride and a moment in mid-air, it is more comfortable for the rider (and the horse) to rise up and down every-other beat (this is called "posting"). The horse lifts his hooves as follows: (1st beat) right fore / left hind (2nd beat) left fore / right hind Canter: The canter is a 3-beat movement. This gait has a period of suspension after each stride. This gait starts with the hind leg then leads to the front in a rocking motion. When you canter, you keep your seat in the saddle (unlike the trot). Before learning to canter, make sure your balance and rhythm stays consistent with the horse during the trot. The horse lifts his hooves as follows: (1st beat) left hind leg (2nd beat) right hind / left fore (3rd beat) right fore leg (1st beat) right hind leg (2nd beat) left hind / right fore (3rd beat) left fore leg Gallop: The gallop is a 4-beat movement. This gait is similar to the canter, but the horse's legs move one at a time.

The gallop feels just like a fast canter. When riding the gallop, raise your seat slightly out of the saddle, putting your weight in your heels. Before attempting to gallop, you must be able to control the horse 100% and be able to ride all other gaits in balance. The horse lifts his hooves as follows: (1st beat) left hind leg (2nd beat) right hind leg (3rd beat) left fore leg (4th beat) right fore leg (1st beat) right hind leg (2nd beat) left hind leg (3rd beat) right fore leg (4th beat) left fore leg Other Natural and Trained Gaits: There seems to be an on-going debate on which gaits are 'natural' and which are 'trained' gaits. Many gaits can be 'natural' to one breed, and at the same time, must be 'trained' to other breeds. This is the reason we will not get into detail here about which gaits are 'natural' and which are 'trained'. However, we will point you to other articles that we have found on the internet which describe specific gaits.

If anyone feels that any of these articles lead to false information, please don't hesitate to inform us . Lateral Gaits - Tolt Words To Remember: Lead: The term "lead" is used to tell which fore leg of the horse is farther forward (leading). This term is used only in the canter and gallop. A horse is on his "left lead" when his left fore leg is leading and on his "right lead" when his right fore leg is leading. (see above diagrams). Posting: The term "posting" is used to describe the up-and-down pattern of the trot. When you post, you raise out of the saddle for one beat, and sit down in the saddle for one beat. This pattern usually creates a more comfortable trot for both the horse and rider. Diagonal: The term "diagonal" refers to which fore leg is moving forward while you are in the up position of the posting trot. You should always be in the up position of the posting trot when the the horse's outside fore leg (closest to the arena wall) is farther forward. Horse Trot vs. Gallop | Animals - mom.me Horse Trot vs. Gallop Riding faster is more fun, but also comes with greater risks.

Thomas Northcut/Lifesize/Getty Images Anyone who has ridden atop a walking horse either will fear for their life or want to go faster. Those with a need for speed can do so by learning the trot, canter or gallop. Knowing the difference between these gaits and how to cue the horse will allow you ride safely. Safety First Novice riders first must feel comfortable riding at a walk and maintain control over a familiar horse. This includes a balanced seat, a light hand on the reins and possessing control over your body, from head to heels. Wearing a helmet and closed-toe, hard-sole shoes are essential components for safe riding. Never attempt a new gait without supervision from an experienced rider. Learning the Trot Though the horse's movements are the same, there are two versions of the trot, sitting and rising, in which the rider's movements differ. The horse's feet will move in a two-beat diagonal pattern, with the left fore leg moving in conjunction with the right rear leg, followed by the right fore leg with the left rear leg. To cue this gait, squeeze your thighs and tap the horse's belly gently with your heels.

Shorten the reins slightly, keeping your elbows in toward your body, and maintain a straight posture. When performing a sitting trot, relax rather than tense up to avoid the bounciness of the ride. In the rising trot, you will use the balls of your feet and move your hips forward to push up out of the saddle, and gently sit back down to the seat in succession. Rise when the horse's front outside leg, or the one closest to the arena fence, is forward and sit down when it is back. Canter to Transition Like learning to crawl before you walk, a rider must know how to canter before galloping. This three-beat gait begins with the left rear leg, for example, followed by the right rear leg along with the left fore leg, and finally the right fore leg. There will be a moment's pause before the pattern repeats, when all of the horse's legs are not touching the ground. Cue the horse into this gait from the trot by sitting back down. Touch your heels to the horse's belly just behind the girth and put your weight into your legs and stirrups while remaining seated. Allow your arms to move with the horse's head while maintaining a firm hold on the reins.

The Gallop The gallop is a much faster gait than the canter and should not be performed in an arena as the horse needs room to get up to speed or slow down. A rider will need to perfect a balanced and controlled ride in the other gaits before attempting this. The gallop is a four-beat movement, beginning with either of the rear legs. If the gait begins with the left rear leg, the right rear leg will follow, then the right fore leg, then the left fore leg and the gait continues in a circular pattern. Likewise, the right rear leg will be followed by the left rear leg. From the canter, you will move out of the seat, holding your own weight in your legs and stirrups to allow the horse to move faster. Lean forward with your hands on a shortened rein, moving back and forth with the horse's head. Remember to relax and enjoy the ride.

Horse Rhythms and Movements from Walk to Gallop and in Between | EquiMed - Horse Health Matters Horse Rhythms and Movements from Walk to Gallop and in Between Submitted by EquiMed Staff on Mon, 01/18/2010 - 6:44pm Physical traits such as size and conformation can help a horse excel at certain activities such as racing, jumping, endurance and heavy pulling. Bone structure is important in the ability of a horse to move. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, conditioning and training all contribute to a horse's athletic prowess. Breeding has created some strikingly different body types ... that produce gaits most suited to the job of the horse. Years of study and observation of horses leads most authorities to the conclusion that some movements and rhythms are hard-wired into the brain of the horse. In addition certain characteristics such as a long neck usually equates to a long stride and a moderately long back may be an advantage in a jumping horse although a short back is often deemed more desirable. With pasterns as shock absorbers, long pasterns are sometimes considered best, but too much length can weaken the leg.

One notably important conclusion drawn about horses is that the horse's desire can often supersede its physical limitations, opening new possibilities for many horses, riders and trainers. Another important conclusion drawn from years of study of horses is that different functions require different body mechanics. With this in mind, breeding has created some strikingly different body types that produce the patterns of movement and gaits most suited to the job of the horse. Classifications and horse gaits All horse gaits can be roughly categorized into two groups: natural and ambling. Natural gaits occur in nearly all horses without any special training to encourage that particular pattern of movement. These "natural" gaits in increasing order of speed are: Walk Canter or Lope Gallop All four of these natural gaits are seen in wild horse populations and occur in nature in all horse breeds. Ambling gaits include a collection of several smooth footfall patterns that often require special training of the horse before a rider can command them. Some individual horses and certain breeds may naturally have certain ambling gaits, but training is usually required for consistency and to take full advantage of the gaits.

Typically, the major ambling gaits include: The fox trot The Tolt The "Paso" gaits All ambling gaits are faster than a walk but usually slower than a canter. They are smooth and can be sustained for long periods of time making them desirable for trail riding and other tasks where a rider must spend long periods of time in the saddle. Not all horses can perform an ambling gait, but many can be taught to produce them. Another method of classification uses the categories of: Walking gaits including ambling Running or trotting gaits Leaping gaits Whatever classification or categories are used, a consensus exists about what constitutes the different variations of gaits. Walk Horse walking The walk is a comfortable four beat gait. New window. In the walk, the horse puts each foot down one at a time, creating a four beat rhythm and averaging about 4 miles per hour. At a walk the hose will always have one foot raised and the other three feet on the ground except for a brief moment when weight is being transferred from one foot to another. The horse moves its head and neck in a slight up and down pattern that helps maintain balance.

Trot Horse trotting The trot is a two beat gait that may be uncomfortable for the beginning rider. New window. In the trot, one front foot and its opposite hind foot come down at the same time, making a two-beat rhythm. The trot has a wide variation in possible speeds, but averages about 8 miles per hour. A very slow trot is sometimes referred to as a jog. The trot is the working gait for a horse since horses in good condition can maintain a working trot for hours. Because the trot is such a safe and efficient gait for a horse, learning to ride the trot correctly is an important component in almost all equestrian disciplines. Since each time the diagonal pair of legs hits the ground, the rider can be jolted upwards out of the saddle, most riders 'post' to the trot by rising up and down in rhythm with the horse to avoid being jolted. Posting is easy on the horse's back, and, once mastered, is also easy on the rider. Canter or lope Horse cantering (loping) The lope is an asymmetrical gait (left lead or right lead). This three beat gait is fun to ride, but can be unnerving to beginning riders.

New window. In the canter, one hind leg strikes the ground first, and then the other hind leg and one foreleg come down together, the the other foreleg strikes the ground. This movement creates a three-beat rhythm that is usually faster than the average trot, but slower than a gallop. The average speed of a canter is between 10 and 17 miles per hour. This distinct three beat rhythm followed by a rest and then immediately afterwards a recurrence of the three beats followed by another rest is easy to distinguish. The lope is a western term for canter. Gallop Horse galloping The gallop is an asymmetrical high speed four beat gait. This gait is thrilling for the rider and during the suspension phase when all feet are off the ground it feels like flying. New window. In the gallop, the basic canter movement is sped up so that all four feet are off the ground for a suspended moment. It is the fastest gait of a horse averaging about 25 to 30 miles per hour and is used in the wild when the horse needs to flee from a predator or cover a short distance quickly.

Most horses need to rest after galloping for more than a mile or two. Pace Horse pacing under harness Standardbred and other breeds of horses can pace at a very high speed, making them popular on the race track. Notice the legs on each side moving in tandem. New window. The pace is a lateral two-beat gait with the two legs on the same side of the horse moving forward together. As in the trot, two feet are always off the ground. Pacers are usually faster than trotters on average. A slow pace can be relatively comfortable as the rider is lightly rocked from side to side. A fast pace is uncomfortable for riding and difficult to sit because the rider is moved rapidly from side to side. The ambling gaits Icelandic horse doing ambling tolt gait This unusual gait allows the horse and rider to cover large distances comfortably. New window. These are a number of four-beat intermediate gaits with differences in footfall patterns and speed. Historically they are grouped together and horses that are able to do an ambling gait are referred to as "gaited." These gaits were developed in these breeds by people interested in making distance riding more comfortable.

Among gaited horses, the American Saddlebred horse developed in Kentucky, and the Tennessee Walking Horse, developed for southern plantation owners who needed to cover the ground of their plantations in comfort and with speed, are two of the most popular horses. Other gaited horses include the Icelandic Horse which is a sturdy horse with its roots in Viking history which possesses a gait known as the tolt, which is similar to the Tennessee Walker's running walk. Some Icelandics also have a gait called the flying pace where the legs on each side of the horse move in unison. The Missouri Fox Trotter was created by Missouri cattlemen to carry riders across stretches of rough terrain and to work cattle. The Missouri Fox Trotter is known for its special trot exemplified by a four-beat fait instead of the usual two beats found in a typical trot. The National Show Horse was bred in the 1980's by crossing Arabians to American Saddlebreds. National Show Horses are capable of performing the slow gait and the rack which are four-beat gaits that are comfortable to ride. Paso fino doing the classic fino gait Rapid-fire foot falls are characteristic of this amazing and beautiful gait. New window.

Another gaited breed is the Paso Fino which was originally created by crossing Spanish Andalusians with the now extinct Spanish Jennets over two hundred years ago. The Paso Fino horses are noted for their paso fino, paso corto, and the paso largo gaits. Each gait varies in speed and is a four-beat lateral gait with each foot hitting the ground separately and the legs on each side moving in unison. These gaits provide an extremely comfortable ride and cover considerable ground in a short time. Peruvian Pasos are another gaited breed with three gaits: the paso llano, the sobreandando and the huschano. These gaits are a four-beat lateral gait that is comfortable while [no-glossary]covering long distances, and these horses can maintain these gaits for many hours. The Racking Horse is another gaited breed and shares a history with the Tennessee Walking Horse. The Racking Horse is considered special by many because it performs a four-beat racking gait in addition to a walk and a canter. Racking Horses make good trail horses and are popular for simple riding pleasure.

Needless to say, the devotees and followers of various breeds of horses, whether gaited or natural, are attracted by the patterns of rhythm and the movements of each of the breeds. Equine pawing actions and their meaning In addition to the rhythms and patterns of gaits, horse's are known for using their limbs to communicate with each other and with humans in other ways. Pawing is one of these ways. Horses normally paw from frustration or impatience and it is important to pay attention to their pawing, not only for its meaning, but also to prevent the damage that a pawing horse can do in its environment. Basically the horse has one of five objectives in mind when it uses its hoof as a signal or paws: Begging: This is usually seen when the horse is in need of food or water. In this case, the front foot is held up off the ground with the head in a medium to low position. Nervousness or upset: The pawing is quick and sporadic. The horse's head is usually in a medium position. Many horses involve in this kind of pawing when tied short or in a trailer.

Expecting something: The pawing is slower and evenly spaced with the head in a medium to low position. Many times the horse paws in this way when feeding is late or delayed. Checking something out: The paw is softer and deliberate with the head in a low position. This sign is often seen when a horse is thinking about taking a roll and is checking the ground condition. Tool/Weapon: This pawing action is meant to move something, break it, or occasionally to hurt something or someone. The horse may do this to get your attention, move feed around or break ice on water. Demand or show of dominance: With this kind of pawing the horse's head is held high and the neck is often arched. The leg is stiff and the pawing action is more like a hard stomp. This type of pawing often occurs when horses meet for the first time or when the horse is trying to determine herd position with a trainer early in training. No matter what activity a horse is engaged in on any given day, close attention to its movements and rhythms can give the handler or rider a great deal of insight into where the horse is coming from and what its attitude is at that moment.

In addition, it will help you determine which horse is best for you. Do you want a pleasure horse that is enjoyable to ride, or do you want a jumper with great promise. Do you want a horse that moves like the wind, or a horse that enjoys a leisurely jog on the trail. If you already have a horse, is he suited to the things you want to do or is it a "bad fit" because of the horse's inclination to act and move in a certain way because of its breed and its physical strengths? Consider this By becoming informed about the various horses out there, how they move and what their best accomplishments are, you are in a position to make good choices whether looking for a new horse or simply enjoying the one that you already have. Related products Horses - Riding At The Lope, Canter, Gallop, And Run Horses - Riding At The Lope, Canter, Gallop, And Run ( Originally Published 1940 ) THE LOPE is constantly used by riders of the cattle ranges and, having a horse good at this easy gait, distance is covered and time saved with a minimum of fatigue to both horse and rider.

It is an all-day gait for western cow-horses and the average speed is about eight or even ten miles an hour. The horse travels freely, reins swinging loosely, and his head is carried either rather low or about as he would carry it when loping along without a rider or saddle or bridle. The rider sits rather loosely in his saddle, feels no jar, and can maintain balance easily, with little need for any strong friction ( gripping with his thighs) . The rider should sit erect but without stiffness and he should sway with the movements of the horse, being careful to allow the small of his back to keep flexible. The lope is one that seems to be natural to many western horses of small size, yet it is believed that, most of the time, it is a gait so often adopted by cowboys that we should rather conclude the horse becomes trained to this gait. THE CANTER is a far more trained gait, and will average about the same hourly speed. In the canter the horse is what we call "collected"; that is, he has been trained to move at this gait, well in hand.

It differs from the loose lope in that the horse's head is always carried much higher, and the hind legs of the horse are far more under him. The canter is the gait seen in park riding, in horse shows, etc. The horse is held more firmly between the bit and between the rider's legs, than when loping. If is always a pretty sight to watch a fine saddler canter around a track under a skilled rider, and it is easy on the rider if the horse does no jerking in the gait. POSITION OF THE RIDER The rider, at the canter, sits erectly, loosely, and maintains a rather stiffer feel of the horse's mouth, but never should this be a hard pull. The rider's legs are more firmly clinched against the horse's sides, calves touching the horse firmly but heels turned out-ward so that rider's feet are parallel to the horse's sides. The spurs are only lightly used, if at all. The purpose of this is to force the horse to carry his hind legs farther forward and under him than when at a lope or gallop. When cantering, the horse is very graceful.

It is a show gait- and a thoroughly-trained horse will canter with very well-regulated, ac-curate movements. The horse, at this gait, is always "in hand"�that is, ready for instant action in stopping, turning about or in turning to the right or left. THE CORRECT "LEAD" There is a special point to be brought out regarding the correct canter. A good canterer should "lead" with the proper front foot. And we mean by this, that the horse should lead with his right forefoot when traveling to the right, or with the left forefoot when traveling to the left. By observing a trained horse at the canter, it can quickly be understood whether or not the correct lead is being taken. To teach a horse to canter with the correct lead, canter him on a circle. He will often lead with the wrong (outside) front foot.

This is called "cantering false" as against the correct lead which we call "cantering true." If the horse leads with the wrong forefoot, the rider should come down to a trot on the circle, press his outside spur against the horse's flank lightly, which will cause the horse to swing his hind quarters away from the spur and inward toward the circle's center. At the same instant, slightly lift the reins and carry them toward the direction, over the horse's neck, in which the rider desires to circle and force the horse, by pressure of both legs, into the canter again. The horse should now take up the canter with the proper forefoot leading. A rider should always try to make his horse use the proper lead when cantering or galloping, as it is easier on both horse and rider, and far safer. When the "false" lead is taken, the horse's action is never so smooth, and he is apt to cross his front legs and fall. The cowboy's trained horse, accustomed always to swift dashes and turns in various directions after cattle, soon learns to use the proper lead at canter or gallop or run, and becomes very safe�sure-footed.

THE FIGURE OF EIGHT To train a horse to take the correct lead and to change the lead on signal from the rider, is always very pretty work. In this training, the rider should move his horse on a "Figure of Eight" and give the spur and rein signals just as the horse, at the center of the "Figure of Eight," is about to change his direction from right to left or from left to right, according to which way the course is being ridden around the "Figure of Eight." As the rider becomes more and more expert and secure in his saddle, he will find that he can train almost any horse to finally change leads on the "straightaway"�that is, while riding along to the front on a straight line instead of around a circle. The gallop is at the rate of about twelve miles an hour and is extremely easy on the rider. Here, too, it is important that the horse be held to the proper "lead" as explained for the canter. A FASTER GAIT As the gallop.

is a much faster gait than the canter, though the same in the way the horse moves his legs, a false lead at the gallop is more apt to cause the horse, if turned quickly to right or left, to cross his front legs and stumble or even fall. When galloping on the straightaway, of course it does not matter with which front foot the horse leads. The horse, at the gallop, carries his head rather high, the reins are somewhat looser than at the canter, and the rider sits firmly in the saddle, but never stiffly, using balance and friction (leg grip from waist to knee), and stirrups, without poking his feet forward like a greenhorn rider. The rider's lower legs should hang vertically, without any swinging motion backward and forward, and the feet of the rider should never be thrust out sideways or forward. When the rider thus stiffens his legs and knees and shoves his feet forward, he has a very insecure seat and this is known as the "tongs across the wall" seat�a poor one. It is used at times by riders who wish to pose.

A good rule to remember and to follow as to the lower legs and feet of the rider is that, when the rider (sitting normally erect) looks down at his knees, he should NOT see his toes sticking forward beyond them. The toes should be on the same vertical line as the knees. Some horses will gallop faster than twelve miles an hour, but the same rules apply. This is not a gait that should be kept up for more than a short while, of course, unless in emergencies, as it winds the animal. The rider's judgment in this must govern, as well as the necessity for the use of this very rapid gait. The tendency of green riders is to do far too much galloping, to escape the pounding of the trot. THE RUN The run is, of course, merely the extended gallop, and as a rule is at the rate of about sixteen miles an hour. Some horses will go faster than this. When increased to the horse's limit it is of course to be used only for short bursts of speed for short periods of time and under necessity, or for practice. The run is frequently required in working with cattle, in polo, in cross-country riding and in track racing.

It is, too, the speed of cavalry charges, always so spectacular. The rider should sit rather loosely, his thigh grip held securely, his lower legs vertical, the balls of his feet firmly placed on the treads of his stirrups and his heels shoved down slightly lower than his toes. REMAIN FLEXIBLE The reins at the run are held so that the rider has a fair "feel" of the horse's mouth, though, oftentimes, as with cattle herding, the reins are allowed to swing loosely in the rider's hands. At the run, the rider should lean slightly forward in the saddle, instead of sitting erect as in the lope and canter and gallop. The point to re-member while riding at these rapid gaits is never to stiffen the rider's body and become taut, rigid. The rider's whole torso should be flexible, while his grip comes from his waist to his knees against the horse's sides. There is a material difference in the fast-riding seat and in the "Jockey" seat. This seat shows the bridle and bit generally used on race tracks, and the extremely short, elevated position of the jockey's legs.

The average jockey weighs about a hundred pounds, as every ounce on a racing horse's back counts. The rider and horse shown herein won three races, each a mile, on the same day, in 1939. The saddle is the lightest possible and often does not exceed around six pounds. During a race, the rider leans very far forward, crouching low, so as to take the weight off the horse's hind quarters and hind legs, from which all the horse's driving power of propulsion springs. A well-trained saddle' horse and one pleasant to ride should stop from the lope, canter, gallop or even from the run, almost within his own length by sliding his hind feet forward, being ready to respond to the rider's signals of reins and legs instantly, and, these given, to move off without a second's delay, in the new direction or to stop and stand still without excitement. Cowboys' top-horses are expert at this, and so are top polo ponies. Otherwise, they would be useless and dangerous to others riding about, and the rider's usefulness would be badly interfered with while he went on trying to control his horse. BAREBACK RIDING.

ESSENTIAL When well accustomed to riding in a saddle and using stirrups to assist in maintaining balance, we reach the time when one must learn bareback riding, a thoroughly essential thing if one would become a really strong rider. The horse is mounted the same way as when using a saddle, except, of course, there are now no stirrups and the rider must spring from the ground, from BOTH feet, and he should spring so high that, using his arm strength, he holds himself up on them (without either elbow ever touching the horse's back) . From this position on stiffened arms, he throws his right leg over the horse's croup (rear part of horse's back) and quietly sits down on the center of the horse's back, without jar. Begin this practice first at a halt, until thoroughly able to do it, then practice such mounting while the horse is at a walk, and when able to do that, practice this mounting bareback at a trot, then at a canter, and finally while the horse is at a gallop, always being sure to hold the reins in your left hand so the horse cannot "bolt" with you. He must always be under the rider's control.

In this bareback mounting, the rider's left hand grasps a lock of the horse's mane and the right hand is placed on the horse's withers (top of shoulders), and the rider faces the horse's "near" (left) side, before springing up. Too much stress cannot be laid upon this riding bareback. The self-confidence it gives is wonderful and very essential and very lasting. When practicing mounting bareback at the trot, canter, gallop, or run, the rider faces about half way to the front, beside the horse's left shoulder, takes a springy step that we term the "galloping step" and, springing from both feet, lands on the horse's back. The left hand grasps the mane as before and the right hand is on the horse's withers (shoulders). How to Canter With Your Horse (with Pictures) - wikiHow Teaching the Canter 1 Teach your horse to trot and walk before starting. As some horse experts might tell you, "you can't teach the canter from the canter." [1] Horses need good foundational knowledge of the trot and walk (plus the muscle strength that comes from learning these commands) to learn the canter properly.

Without this, your horse may have difficulty maintaining safe canter form, which can be bad for you and (especially) the horse. This is extra true with young, inexperienced (or "green") horses. Since the canter is what's called a "three-beat gait," it puts the horse's entire body weight on the outside hind leg when it steps off. Young horses typically don't develop the strength necessary to do this safely without good foundational training. 2 Start trotting in a wide circle. The canter should be taught in a flat, open space that's at least about 60 feet (about 20 meters) wide. Begin by trotting at a steady, comfortable pace (in whichever direction is easiest for you to control.) Horses need lots of space to balance properly as they're learning the canter, so don't skimp and use a space that's too small. In some cases, a lack of space can even lead some horses to become panicky or agitated. [2] Note that, at this point, the horse should be tacked up with bridle, saddle, side reins, and boots. [3] 3 Perform a few basic transitions to get the horse's attention.

Before you teach the canter the first time, you want your horse attentive and responsive to you. To do this, give the horse a few commands that it already knows. For instance, try transitioning between a walk and a trot and back again a few times until the horse is sharp to your commands and is responding instantly. 4 Ask the horse to canter. Now, you're ready to perform the canter command. Get the horse moving in a wide circle at a trot once again. When you're ready, say "can-TER" in a sharp (but not angry) voice. [4] The goal here is to associate your verbal command with the act that you're about to ease your horse into doing — eventually, your voice alone should be enough to get a good canter from your horse. When you make this command, you'll execute a few commands with your body (described in the next step) simultaneously. For more detail on these body cues, see the section below. 5 Encourage the canter with your lower body. As soon as you give the "can-TER" command, slide your inside hip (the side pointing to the inside of the circle you're trotting in) forward and your outside hip backward.

As you do this, squeeze with your inside leg and slide the outside leg back. Ideally, the horse should interpret your actions as a command to go faster. See the section below for greater detail and for information on proper form and posture once you begin to canter. Note, however, that if the horse doesn't seem to notice your command, you can use a lunge whip or another riding aid (gently) to get its attention. [5] However, this works best if the horse is already comfortable using these aids — if not, they may confuse it. 6 Repeat your command if the horse starts to trot faster. If, after giving the canter command, the horse stays in a two-beat trot and doesn't transition into a three-beat canter, give the command (and the body motions) once again. The horse should go faster still. If necessary, repeat the command again. After a certain point, it will need to transition from the trot to the canter to go any faster. Once your horse transitions into the canter, be sure to reward it by praising enthusiastically with your voice. If you desire, pat the horse on the neck.

Over time, these rewards should associate following your commands with positive feelings in the horse's mind. 7 Ease back into a trot when the horse fatigues. Believe it or not, a basic canter can be quite fatiguing to a young horse that hasn't built up its riding muscles yet. Be attentive to your horse's movement as it canters underneath you. As soon as you feel the canter begin to become unbalanced or off-rhythm, transition back into a trot and immediately give a half-halt command to get the horse's movements back under control. See the section below for more detailed information on performing a half halt. Note that, at first, a horse may be able to do less than a single full circle of cantering at once. This is OK — with frequent practice, the horse will become stronger and more confident. Using an experienced rider as an observer can help immensely here. 8 Repeat the cantering commands. Get your horse trotting in a circle again and repeat the steps above to start another canter. Repeat this several more times, staying conscious of your horse's fatigue as you do so. You may notice that your horse becomes more responsive to your commands within a single training session.

If not, be patient — this will come with time. Keep training sessions short at first so that the horse doesn't become overly tired or lose interest. A training session of about 20 minutes is fine for the first month or so of training. [6] 9 Vary your practice over the next several months. When you're riding your horse "for real", you won't be limited to simply cantering in a circle. To give your horse the sort of versatility that it will need for cantering in practical situations, try changing up your training routine once it's comfortable with the one described above. A few good ideas are: [7] Canter and trot in figure-eights to get your horse used to turning to both sides. Trot tight circles at the corners of your training area, making your horse canter from one to the next in sequence. Canter and trot in a long, winding course of your own design. After a month of training, try executing a half-halt during a canter. Part 2 Perfecting Your Riding Technique 1 Start with open, erect riding posture. While professionals may make it seem effortless, a good canter results as much from the rider's efforts as it does from the horse's.

As you canter, your body should be positioned to open the front (leading) shoulder of the horse and to cue the horse behind the girth, all while adding forward movement. Assume the following posture while you trot to prepare to transition into a canter. Keep your back straight. Avoiding Common Mistakes 1 Avoid rocking your shoulders. Old-time Western movies have popularized images of cowboys cantering away on their horses with their entire body moving in sync with the horse. While it is a good thing for your hips to move, your torso and shoulders should not sway or rock in time with the horse. This can put both you and your horse off balance, making the canter difficult to sit. 2 Keep your heels down. This is often a problem at any faster gait for beginning riders. Your foot should be situated in the stirrup so that you are putting your weight on the ball of your foot with your toes tipped up slightly and your heel tipped down. This keeps you in balance and helps prevent you from leaning forward or gripping with your legs. If you have a hard time doing this, your stirrups may be too short.

English stirrup irons should be at about ankle bone-height, while Western-style stirrups should be long enough to leave a slight bend in your knee. [13] 3 Keep your hand motions subdued. It can be difficult to keep your hands stationary while the horse is trotting or cantering beneath you. However, if your hands move too much, they can yank at the reins, which can be very confusing for the horse. Try to move your hands only as much as feels natural from the horse's movement — this should get easier with experience. If you need help keeping your hands still, try gently gripping your horse's mane with your pinkies. The tug of the mane will help keep your hands centered and in-sync with the horse's natural movement. [14] 4 Avoid swinging your legs. As your hips naturally shift with each of the horse's strides, it can be easy to let the motion carry into your legs as well. This, however, is a bad idea, as excessive leg motions can confuse the horse. Try to keep your leg in the proper "behind the girth" riding position for maximum control and sharp responses from your horse.

If you need help, try keeping your heels down in the stirrup (as suggested above.) This tends to naturally push your legs back into the proper position. [15] 5 Don’t go into the fetal position. The so-called "fetal" position is a riding mistake that involves leaning forward (sometimes to grab a handhold on the mane, horn, pommel, or reins), gripping with your legs, tipping your toes down and bring your heels up. This a usually a nervous response done in hopes of maintaining balance and preventing the rider from falling off, but, unfortunately, it does just the opposite: it throws your horse out of balance and speeds the horse up. Good self-control while riding is important to avoid this. When you get anxious, slow your horse down a bit, loosen your legs and lean back. Even if you feel like you’re leaning back too far, odds are that you’ll probably be perfectly vertical (which is good cantering posture.) Resist the urge to "hunker down" and grip tightly — remember, this will give you the opposite of what you want. 6 Don’t slouch.

It’s not a good habit in general to slouch your shoulders and curve your back while riding, and it is a particularly poor idea when you’re cantering. Make sure your shoulders are always upright and positioned over your hips. This gives you better balance and keeps you from accidentally urging your horse to go faster (see above.) If you need help maintaining your posture, try using a long crop slid behind your back and in the crook of each elbow while you ride. This will prevent you from slouching forward and will help your arms stay in the correct riding position as well. 7 Keep your core strong. Core strength is essential for cantering, as riding a horse (especially at higher speeds) is a workout that uses the core muscles heavily. Even if you do everything else correctly (shoulders back, heels down, upright position, etc.), if you go soft in the middle this can cause you to lose your center of gravity. Keeping yourself centered with a firm core will help your horse maintain a collected canter and make things easier and more comfortable for you in the long run as you teach your horse new skills. If you feel like your core muscles aren’t up to par, you may want to practice doing the plank exercise in your free time.

Get in pushup position, but balance on your elbows with your forearms laying along the floor. Hold this position for as long as you can, take a one-minute rest, and repeat three times. If you do this every day, you should notice a significant difference in your balance while riding. [16] Community Q&A If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know. Video Tips It may also help to breathe in sync with your horse, your horse inhales when their front hooves are off the ground, and exhales when their back hooves are off the ground, breathing in sync with your horse will give you a better understanding of how your horse works. If possible, consider having an experienced rider or instructor lunge your horse for you while you are mounted (in other words, the horse should travel in a circle around the other person at the end of a lunge line while you ride it.) This way, the person on the ground is controlling the speed and direction of the horse so you can focus on cantering. Give the aids for canter on a corner (if riding in a school). This will help the horse to strike off on the correct leading leg.

If you're a beginner, always have an experienced rider around while you're teaching your horse the canter. This is a good idea even if you're fairly experienced yourself. Do not scream or yell when cantering or the horse, even if you're excited that you finally got it. This can cause the horse to "freak out" and may even panic it into a full-blown run. Use a firm aid so that your horse picks up the canter without simply starting a fast and bumpy trot. If your horse doesn't pick up the canter, slow down the trot so that it is steady and balanced again before reapplying the aids to canter. Warnings All riders should wear an approved helmet and appropriate footwear (hard soled boots with a heel). Never attempt this without prior horse experience! Always wear a helmet and have a guardian or qualified trainer with you. Updated: Views: 307,446 "I'm 57 years old and just recently took up horseback riding. This was very helpful to me as my horse tends to be somewhat lazy!

I have taken a few basic lessons, and anything I read is a big help to me."..." more - Beverly Berger "I have recently just started to do canter. However, my horse, Murphy, would not canter. I have read this article and he does it perfectly now. Thanks!"..." more - Carys Whiting Just realized I've been gripping with my legs in canter - no wonder my horse goes too fast! - Helen Rogers A very good article, answered a lot of questions that I was unsure of. - Debbie Murphy I did not know that it was a mistake to lean forward when galloping. - Abi Kitshoff That was awesome, such a good lesson. Hope to be good on the day! - Anonymous How To Position Your Horse To A Gallop - YouTube How To Position Your Horse To A Gallop Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Uploaded on Apr 6, 2011 This advice video is a suitable time-saver that will enable you to get good at horse riding. Watch our video on How To Position Your Horse To A Gallop from one of Videojug's professional experts. Horse Riding & Snorkeling - Arctic Adventures Horseback Riding & Snorkeling Horse Riding & Snorkeling Trot, gallop, and tölt through a volcanic moonscape, then explore an underwater canyon between continental plates! Price from 31.990 ISK per person. Tour highlights Pick up time: 08:30 – 09:00 from your Reykjavík accommodation. Included: Pick-up from Reykjavík, horse riding, snorkeling and Silfra admission fee. Remember to bring: Warm and waterproof outdoor clothing, gloves, warm undergarments (fleece/wool), warm socks and a change of clothing. Minimum requirements: 12 years old, 45kg and 150cm. + − More details This is Iceland’s ultimate lava tour!

On this popular tour, you will ride Icelandic horses through the lava fields on the outskirts of Hafnarfjörður town as well as visit the UNESCO world heritage site of Þingvellir National Park. There you will snorkel in the crystal clear water in the Silfra fissure between the continents of America and Europe. We start with an adventurous ride from the Íshestar Riding Centre into the lava surrounding Mt. Helgafell volcano. Then we will ride through lava fields and across beautiful hillsides to either the old Kaldársel sheep corral or Lake Hvaleyrarvatn. As we ride through this amazing scenery you will see the unique formations in the rough lava. All riding occurs on great riding paths with the Bláfjöll Mountains towering above on the horizon. After the horse riding, we go back to Reykjavik where you have a possibility to buy lunch before moving on to the Þingvellir National Park, home of the Silfra Fissure. Snorkeling in the Silfra is our second adventure. The Silfra fissure is one of Iceland’s otherworldly scenes that is world famous for its heavenly shades of blue.

The crystal clear water in the deep fissure gives you a feeling of being weightless as you float down the lazy current. With more than 80 meters of visibility under the water, it is a sight not forgotten! The snorkeling is a relaxing but exotic trip in an unbelievably beautiful environment. Bad eyesight? Since you are wearing snorkeling / dive mask to see underwater, there can be nothing in the way of the seal to keep them from filling up with water. That is, you cannot wear glasses underneath the mask. You will have to go without them, wear eye lenses or bring your own mask with prescription. Walk, trot, gallop | plus.maths.org Walk, trot, gallop Submitted by mf344 on June 7, 2012 A dressage horse and rider performing the extended trot. Image: Chefsna . The abilities of equestrian athletes are amazing, but the skills of their horses are even more impressive. Through training, the horses can perform complicated movements with speed, elegance, and precision. But the training builds on innate features of horses, which are remarkably versatile, even in the wild.

In Charles Dickens's Nicholas Nickleby, Wackford Squeers, the disreputable teacher who runs Dotheboys Hall, shows off his erudition: "A horse is a quadruped, and quadruped's Latin for beast, as everybody that's gone through grammar knows." Squeers is wrong about the Latin, but right about horses being quadrupeds: animals with four feet. With four feet, you can make a lot of movements that are impossible with two. Horses move using several different patterns, and those patterns have striking mathematical features. At slow speeds, horses walk. Here the legs hit the ground at regular intervals in the order back left, front left, back right, front right. To move faster, they trot. Now diagonally opposite pairs of legs move together, so that the left back and right front legs hit the ground at the same time, and then the other two legs hit the ground together. For really rapid movement, the horse gallops. Here the timing is more complicated. The two back legs hit the ground almost together, but one of them (say the right) is a split second behind the other one.

Then the same thing happens with the front two legs, and again the left one hits the ground first. Many horses can also canter, an even more complicated pattern used at speeds between trot and gallop. Sometimes this comes naturally, sometimes it is the result of training. Other horses can pace: now the two left legs move together, then the two right ones. Four different gaits: the numbers in the feet of this creature show when the particular foot hits the ground, as a fraction of a complete cycle. The branch of science that studies animal movements is called gait analysis. A gait is a pattern of leg movements, and five of them have just been described: walk, trot, gallop, canter, pace. Strictly speaking, the gallop of the horse is a transverse gallop. There is another kind, the rotary gallop, in which the legs at the front hit the ground in the opposite order to those at the back. This is how cheetahs move when they are chasing prey. Gait analysis applies to all animals with legs, including insects, with six; spiders, with eight; and humans, with two. It seeks to understand the general principles of legged locomotion in nature.

Those principles also apply to creatures that use wings, or fins, or wriggle—like snakes. Even snails have their own characteristic gaits. Mathematics is used in gait analysis in several different ways. At the simplest level, it describes the patterns. This description provides clues about the networks of nerve cells that control the gaits, known as central pattern generators. In many animals it is virtually impossible to observe these networks directly, but the timing patterns provide clues that suggest what symmetries the central pattern generator should have. Analysing the symmetries of the walk shows that the central pattern generator should have the same symmetries as two loops of four identical components, linked left-to-right. For example in the walk, each leg hits the ground one quarter of the gait cycle after the previous leg, so the central pattern generator must have a symmetry that naturally leads to these quarter period phase shifts. There is also a left-right symmetry. Putting all of the information together, and making some reasonable assumptions, it turns out that the central pattern generator should have the same symmetries as two loops of four identical components, linked left-to-right.

It need not have this form in a literal sense, because other arrangements can have the same symmetries, but even so, we can make some predictions about the motion that have been verified experimentally. The mechanics of the movement is also important—how the forces exerted by the muscles act on the bones and joints of the horse's skeleton. In simple models the horse is treated like a table whose legs are hinged, so that they can move, and are supported by springs. Better models correspond more closely to the actual arrangement of muscles and bones. So why do horses use different gaits at different speeds? It's a bit like the gears on a car. Patterns of movement that work fine at slow speeds become inefficient, or mechanically unworkable, at higher ones. To convince yourself of this, try walking faster and faster. At some point you will find that however hard you try, you don't speed up. But if you switch to a run, a different gait, going faster is suddenly easy. Experiments have revealed a close connection between a horse's gait, speed, and oxygen consumption. At low speeds, the walk uses least oxygen. At higher speeds, the trot takes over.

At higher speeds still, the gallop makes the best use of the available oxygen. However, the walk can be sustained for much longer than the trot, and the trot can be sustained for longer than the gallop—just as we can walk for longer periods than we can run. Mathematical models help to explain these observations. Gait analysis has important applications to medicine (disorders that affect movement, especially in young children), robotics (robots with legs can move in difficult terrain), and sport. Which brings us back to the Olympics. When you watch the equestrian events, keep an eye out for regular patterns in how the horses are moving. For that matter, do the same for the human athletes. The same mathematical principles govern how a horse jumps a gate, and how a human runs a hundred-metre sprint. Further reading walk, sitting trot, posting trot, canter, gallop - YouTube walk, sitting trot, posting trot, canter, gallop Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later.

Uploaded on Aug 4, 2011 Song is Tonight by Hot Chelle Rae English riding - walk, sitting trot, posting trot, canter, and gallop ***I DO NOT OWN SONG OR CLIPS*** Category

Question: In horse riding, what comes between a trot and a gallop?
Answer: Canter